#9: "Life" Logistics

There are “life” logistics that require little-to-no thought when you’re permanently settled in a residence, job, and community. However, these things require more attention when you decide to go “nomad.”

For me, coordinating these logistics consumed me for a while. Maybe it was because I was overwhelmed with so much to figure out at once. Perhaps it was because I still couldn’t believe I was actually doing this. Who knows. Here are some of the “on-the-road” technicalities that you may be curious about.

Residence

Since my dad and stepmom live in Virginia and will not be relocating anytime soon, I changed my residence to their house. They graciously offered to help me out by receiving my mail and sending me anything that I may need (thanks, guys!). Even on the road, I get asked for an address of residence…not only for a billing address, but also for reserving campsites and booking tours/activities.

Car/Airstream Registration

When I decided to buy an Airstream, I knew I would need a new car: something that had the necessary towing capacity. After exploring various options, I decided on an old(er) VW Touareg TDI. The diesel engine makes it a beast (especially for towing), PLUS I have an affinity for VW’s (and the price was right given it would be pre-owned). Since these SUVs are somewhat harder to find, I ended up taking a quick trip from Columbus to Chicago to purchase one.

The Ohio registrations for the car and Airstream were finalized just as I was leaving Ohio. Go figure. I ended up changing over both to Virginia because that is where my “residence” would be. Having everything in one place minimizes complications.

Simple, right? Usually, yes. But…when I purchased both vehicles, I financed them. When you finance, you don’t “own” it outright (a bank does), so you don’t possess the title. As soon as I closed on my house, I paid off both the car and Airstream. This made me the owner of both, qualifying me to possess the title of each. The Ohio titles would be sent to me in the mail. Then, I would take them to the Virginia DMV to get them transferred to Virginia titles. Because my address changed, it added a layer of complication to ensure the Ohio titles got sent to the right address promptly. As you can imagine, when you’re dealing with banks and forwarded addresses, it takes much longer than it should.

Long story short, I spent many hours on the phone, online, filling out paperwork, and at the DMV. Eventually, I landed on the best courses of action to ensure I received and transferred both titles before hitting the road.

Health Insurance

This is the most common question I receive from the practical people when they learn what I’m doing. Rightfully, so. It’s essential. There was no way I WASN’T going to have health insurance for an entire year.

Leaving my company, I had the option to take advantage of COBRA. This basically enables one to keep the insurance he/she had while employed, but pay in full out of pocket. It gets expensive.

The other option is to purchase a monthly plan directly through a health insurance company. There are a LOT of choices out there, and the research got pretty involved. Based on the type of plan I wanted/needed, the costs were comparable to the cost of COBRA.

Partly because of ease, partly because of cost, I went with COBRA. Fortunately, I am healthy and do not require regular doctor visits. I was able to change my plan to a higher deductible, lower premium. Basically, with this plan, I can see a doctor as needed. If anything serious happens to me, my out of pocket expenses will cap out at a certain amount with which I feel comfortable.

Prescriptions

I have a couple simple prescriptions that I renew at Walgreens (locations nationwide). I spoke to my doctors before leaving Columbus and explained that I’d be traveling. I agreed with my doctors that if/when refills are needed, I will make a decision then, as to whether or not I need to refill. Worst case scenario, I go without - these medications are “nice-to-haves.”

Wifi / Staying Connected

Before leaving, I switched my mobile service from Sprint to Verizon. I didn’t want to risk not having coverage from one carrier if I could safely get it from another. I knew Verizon would provide the best coverage.

For internet/wifi on the go, I picked up one of these little guys: Verizon MiFi. It’s pretty incredible. As long as I have a cell signal (two bars is sufficient), I have internet. It’s a separate hotspot from my phone hotspot, which allows me to conveniently talk on my phone and be online on a separate device at the same time. I really love it. I pay an extra $10/month for the service, and the actual MiFi device was $50 at Verizon.

Some campsites have free wifi, but it’s often unreliable. I prefer to do things online on my computer, rather than on my phone, so I use my MiFi a lot. Of course, there are always coffee shops or other places that offer free wifi as well.

Getting Mail (and Amazon deliveries!)

I don't think I realized how heavily I rely on Amazon Prime….especially given this new "RV" lifestyle. I cannot believe the random items I need to make my life easier (for example, a hanging net to store fruit or mini dustpan and broom). To receive any packages in the mail, if I know I'm going to be in one place long enough to get mail, I'll send it there. Otherwise, for Amazon deliveries, there is always the pickup option at Amazon locker locations.

My friend Chris sent me a gift via Amazon and I picked it up at a Whole Foods Amazon locker along my route..

Addie Prescriptions / Medical Records

Addie and I were so sad to leave our veterinarian/doggie daycare/groomer in Columbus (Animal Care Center at Cherry Way). I asked them to email me all of her records, so I now have them digitally. She will be due for a checkup in June, and I will probably take her to Banfield Pet Hospital because they are nationwide. Their computer system is connected to all locations.

I just renewed her flea/tick and heartworm prescriptions through PetCareRx. She is good to go until June when we'll get her next checkup and renew any prescriptions.

Addie Training

I’ll be honest - traveling with Addie poses its challenges. She is an incredible dog, and I love her so much, but like all of us, she has her "things." She can be scared of new people, especially on her own turf ("her" car and "her" Airstream). She barks loudly and excessively if she feels she (or me) is in danger. She is a good watchdog.

To quell her tendencies a bit, she and I went through a training program before leaving. This program through Calm K9 Training in Richmond, VA, educated me and gave me the tools I need to manage her behaviors on the road (shout out to Sarah, our trainer!). So far, she is doing really, really well.

What else are you curious about? Let me know!